A New Zealand journalist who says he's the country's biggest Sam Fender fan has written a book inspired by the Geordie's emotive songs.
It was while watching the Graham Norton show in April 2019 that Peter White first heard of Sam Fender and the town of North Shields he calls home. Impressed by the band's performance of 'Hypersonic Missiles' on the show and intrigued by the song title, Peter started researching Fender and fell in love with the Bruce Springsteen and North East references in his music.
But it was only after coming across a book of short stories that were inspired by Springsteen's most famous tracks, that Peter decided he wanted to create his own short stories around Fender's lyrics.
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"The songs are so passionate and emotive and honest," Peter said. "When I listened to the songs ideas just came into my head and I got a plot going. 'Spit of You' is the first one I did. I just love the song so much. I wrote it about the son and the grandma and it went from there."
Peter, who has worked as a journalist for 25 years, has nearly completed his book of short stories centred around the lyrics of Fender's biggest hits including, 'Will We Talk,' 'Seventeen Going Under' and 'Angel In Lothian.' From his home in New Zealand, he has heavily researched North Shields and the North East to include references to places such as the Low Lights Tavern where Sam worked as a barman before his rise to fame.
Now Peter hopes to find a publisher that will take on his book - which is still to be named - that features around nine stories highlighting the importance of mental health that Fender champions.
"If I can help people appreciate Sam's work in a different way then great, but mostly I want to help inspire those who need a boost, and may be struggling with their mental health," he said. "We all need a positive boost at times."
He continued: "I have been to Newcastle when I lived down south for a few years. I have not been to North Shields but I would love to go. If I can get this book published I would love to go over."
In the meantime, Peter is looking forward to seeing Fender perform live for the first time in Melbourne, Australia, in November.
"I would love to meet Sam and the boys and have a chat," he said. "He might be intrigued that someone has created short stories out of his wonderful songs."
Although Peter admitted Fender is not that big in New Zealand, he believes "it is only a matter of time" before he is. He joked: "I would like to think that I am his first real fan in New Zealand."
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